Vehicle suspension.



F. D. BROWN & W. D. WHITNEY.

' VEHICLE SUSPENSION. APPLICATION IILBD MAR. 10, 1908.

Patented June 1', 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. D. BROWN & w. D. WHITNEY.

A VEHICLE SUSPENSION.

APPLIU ATION FILED MAR. 16, 1908.

923,764. Patented June 1, 1909. y 2 SHBETSSHEEJL2.

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FREDERIC D. BROWN AND WALTER D. WHITNEY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.-

VEHICLE SUSPENSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Application filed March 16, 1908. Serial No. 421,329.

and vWALTER D. WHITNEY, citizens of the United States, residing atMinneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Min nesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Suspensions, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to' improvements in road vehicles; and an objectof our invention is to provide means which will dispense with thepneumatic tires now so commonly used without sacrificing resiliency ofaction and capacity to absorb shocks.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of our invention and the bestmode now known to us of applying that principle, Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a road vehicle fitted with our new vehicle suspension; Fig.2 is a section through our vehicle suspension on the line 2, 2, of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top orplan View of What is shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail of alocking'device; and Fig. 6 shows a modified form of our vehiclesuspension in which the cushion-box is made elliptical. Q

The road ,vehicle is provided with the usual body a, supported uponsprings b,

- wheels 0, and axle d. -()ur new vehicle suspension is fitted betweenthe s rings 1) and axle d. The cushion-box c is ormed at the top withtwo cylinders f within which work plung'ers each of which is providedwith a plunger-base h. The plunger bases 72. 'are fastened upon a platez' between which and the air-bag j is interposed a rubber mat it. Thebottom m of the cusbion-box e is hinged thereto at nand is locked inclosed osition by means of two headed latches 0 Figs. 4 and 5) pivotallymounted at p on the hinged bottom m and adapted to engage between thelugs g which project from the cylindrical wall of the'cushion-box c. Aheavy rubber mat is is interposed between the hinged bottom m and theair-bag j. The-latter is provided with a valved nipple 1" which extends,through a small opening s'in the hinged bottom m. The hole 8 is providedwith a lining t which projects downwardly beyond theouter face of thebottom m and is threaded to receive the screw-cap a. Each cylinder f isprovided with a removable lining 1:

formed on its interior with several circular grooves w adapted toreceive steel balls, in order to lessen the frictional resistance to themovement of the plunger-rods or posts g.

' To exclude grit the upper ends of the cylincle'rs are closed bypackings m held by the cover-plates y. To the top of the plunger posts 9is secured a seat-plate .2 upon which rest the springs b. The latter arefastened to the seateplate a by means of bolts passing through the holes2.

Between the plunger-cylinders f is provided an axle-box 3 through whichpasses the axle end 4:. The latter is held firmly by means of cap-plates5. The cross-section of the axle end may vary.

The heavy rubber mats 7c, it serve to prevent wear of the air-bag j andthereby to lengthen the life of the latter. Any suitable material may beused asa substitute for rubber in their construction.

In the operation of Y our device, as the wheels 0 pass over inequalitiesof the road and obstructions therein, the axles (1 rise and fall and inso doing carry the cushion-box 6 with them. Before the movement of thecushion-box 6 can be transmitted to the spring 6, the air-bag 7' must becompressed, whereby shocks due to the sudden meeting of obstructions inthe roadway are absorbed. Our vehicle suspension .avoids the danger incidentto the use of pneumatic tires. If the air-bag j should burst, thespring-seat 2 will simply settle onto the tops of the cylinders f andthe vehicle will not be thrown out of its course. Further, there will beno need of immediately making repairsas in the case where a pneumatictire bursts. A worn-out air-bag is easily replaced without jacking upthe vehicle as must be done when a pneumatic tire is to be replaced. Toreplace the air-bag j, the hinged bottom m is released and allowed todrop; the new air-bag is substituted for the one worn out; the bottom-mis closed and locked in place and the new air-bag is inflated, wherebythe car-top a is raised to its proper level again.

Fig. 6 shows that the cushion -box 6 may be elongated; that is, have oneaxis longer than the other. In this case, the longer axis lies at rightangles to the line of the axle, in order that suliicicnt bearing surfacemay be given the air-bag without hav- 1. In a vehicle suspension, thecol'nbination of a cushion-boar formed with cylinders; l

plunger devices slidably mounted. therein; 'riction reducing devicesmounted in said cylinders around said plunger devices; and

5 a cover for the top of each of said cylinders.

. 1; cylinders around said plunger devices; packmg near the top of saidcylinders; and a cover over said packing for each of 'said cylinders.

3. In a vehicle suspension, the combina- 5tion of a cushion-box, aninflatable air-bag mounted therein and provided with a nipple, andplungerdevices mounted free to slide in and out of said cushion-box; cheside of said cushion-box opposed to the inner faces of said plungerdevices being removable and formed wlth an opening through which accessmay be gained to said nipple, whereby said air-bag may" be readilyremoved, re placed and inflated while said plunger dcviees are in theirinnermost position.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands at said Minneapolisthis 10th day of March, A. D. 1908, in the presence of the twoundersigned witnesses.

FREDERIC D. BROWN. WALTER D. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

BARRY DIBBLE, BREWER GooosELL.

